Condenser control apparatus



March 14, 1933. KALLAM 1,901,104

CONDENSER CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

y/zzm A TTORNE Y March 14,1933. F KALLAM I I 1,901,104

CONDENSER CONTROL APPARATUS IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 14, 1933 'FLGYD L. KALLAM, OF SOUTH GATE, CALIFORNEA oONn-nNsnn ooNrnOL nrrnneros Application filed January 3, 1929.

The invention relates to a method and ap paratus for eliecting the production by a continuously operating condenser of a blended condensate having a uniform composition.

, An object of the invention is to provide a method by which the production of a con- 'densate having a fixed and unvarying vapor pressure is assured.

Another object of the invention is to provideapparatus of the character described in which the vapor pressure of the product automatically controls the operation ofthe condenser for providing a uniform product of predetermined volatility.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which is particularly applicable in the production of hydro-carbon condensates;

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which is readily applied in the control of the product of the various types of condensers apparatus now in use. 7

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of a preferred form of the invention and in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a generally diagrammatic eleation showing the device of the invention applied to one type of condensation apparatus, a condenser and accumulator of the apparatus being shown in section.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation through a constant flow valve of the apparatus.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section through an evaporation cup of the device and an associated thermostatic means for effecting a control of the flow of a cooling fluid through the condenser.

' Figure t is a sectional view of a modification of the structure shown in Figure 3.

As particularly illustrated, the deviceof my invention is disclosed. in operative association with a condensing unit arranged for continuous operation and in which a mixture of water and hydrocarbon vapors is arranged to be cooled for producing a blended hydromade in accordance with the temperature at Serial No. 330,121.

difiering essentially only in the condensation conditions therein, and a required number of P the un ts would be provided with the device; of my invention for the independent control of said condensation conditions.

More specifically, the invention is disclosed as it would be applied to a condenser 6 providing a vapor receiving cavity 7 which discharges into the cavity 8 ofan accumulator 9, the latter being provided with discharge pipes 11, 12 and 13 for the condensed water, condensed gasoline and uncondensed vapors, respectively. A suitable gas trap 14 is provided in the water pipe 11, while asuitable automatic baclnpressure valve 15 is preferably provided in the Vapor pipe 13 for maintaining the constancy of the vapor pressure inthe condenser and accumulator. ably, and as shown, the gasoline discharge pipe 152 is provided with a fioatcontrolled valve 16 for maintaining the constancyot the level of the gasoline above the outlet therefor whereby the gasoline discharge pressure will be held constant. A cooling fluid such as water is'arranged to be circulated, under pressure through a worm 17 dis- 7 posed in the condenser cavity 7 and having inlet and outlet pipes 18 and 19 therefor, one

of said pipes being provided with a valve 21 for regulating the flow rate of the cooling fluid through the worm. a

It will now be noted that it has heretofore been customary to control the compositionot the gasoline produced in a unit such as that now described by maintaining a constant temperature condition in the condenser cavity, regulation of such temperature being some fixed point of the condenser or the temperature of the discharged liquid. .Prefferably, the aforesaid regulation would be effected through-the valve 21, it being noted that the efiective condensing temperature is Prefer- 75- V raised when the valve is closed to lessen the quantity flow of cooling fluid through the worm and is lowered when the valve is opened. Such regulation in terms of temperature presupposes, however, that the various vapor fractions are present in the delivered vapor in unvarying proportions, which condition is seldom, if ever true, so that the resulting gasoline will vary somewhat in the proportions of the different gasoline fractions therein and will be neither constant as to composition nor to essential qualities thereof.

In many products which must be obtained by fractional distillation, one quality which is frequently an important feature in their use is that of volatility. Thus in gasoline and other liquids which are to be used in carburetted form as fuels, thequestion of volatility is vital and the production of such a liquid to have an unvarying and fixed volatility becomes of primary importance. Under these cimcunistances, the usual control. in terms of temperature is markedly ineffective. With the present invention, however, a product ofconstant volatility is obtained by controlling the composition thereof in terms of the volatility of the product as it is produced, and a preferredapparatus for this purpose will now be described.

As particularly illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, an evaporation cup 22 is provided into the cavityof which a sampling pipe 23 connecting with the gasoline discharge pipe ranged to be constant, and an overflow pipe 25 is rovided for said cu wheieb the aseline sample may flow through the cup at a constant flow rate. To-prevent the escape of vapors through the overflow pipe 25, the lat-- ter is preferably provided with a gas trap 26.

It will now be noted that evaporation is arrangedto take place from the surface of thegasoline sample inthe cup and that the rate of evaporation or volatility thereof is determined by the combined vapor pressures of the fractions in the sample, with the more volatile fraction a major factor in determining said evaporation rate. The heat of vaporization taken up by; the resulting vapors will cool theliquid inthe cupbelow the temperature at. which it is supplied to the cup, the degree of cooling being determined by the degree of. volatility of the gasoline, the quantity of liquid in the cup, and the rate at which the gasoline is supplied to the rate.

cup, the last two factors being constant. The flow rate of the gasoline sample into the cup is preferably a constant minimum which will insure an overflow therefrom, and an automatic flow control valve mechanism 27 is preferably interposed in the sampling pipe 23 for providing the desired constant flow The mechanism 27 particularly disclosed is hereinafter described in detail, Figure 2 disclosing an enlarged section therethrough.

Preferably, and as shown, the cup 22 is disposed in a heat insulating jacket 28 whereby the contents thereof may not obtain heat from the surroundings of the cup. Furthermore,the sampling pipe 23 is provided with a covering 29 of suitable heat insulation, as indicated in dash lines in Figure 1 and in full in Figures 2, 3 and 4, In this manner, any appreciable cooling. of the sample by radiation is prevented and the lowering of the temperature of the liquid in the cup will be determined by and vary with the volatility of said liquid. The pipe 23 is preferably made as short as possible for further reduc ing heat losses. I I

V t will now be noted that the valve 21 is arranged to be automatically controlled by the temperature obtaining in the evaporation cup 22. As shown, the bulb of a suitable expansion thermometer 31 is disposed in the liquid in the cup and said thermometer is operatively connected to an air valve 32 having an inlet pipe 33 for connection with a suitable source of air under pressure. The outlet pipe 3 1 of the air valve is connected with the valve 21, which valve, it will now be noted, is a power valve of the diaphragm type and is so connected with the pipe 34: that the passage provided therethrough for the cooling fluid will vary inversely with the pressure in the conduit. In this manner, a

lowering in temperature of the liquid in the cup 22 fromits desired constant value, indieating an increased volatility of said liquid, is arranged to decrease the quantity flow rate ofthe cooling fluid through the worm and so raise the effective condensing temperature for reducing the condensation of the more volatile fractions of the vapor mixture, thereby redueing the volatility of the gasoline subsequently produced. Correspondingly, a raise of the temperature of the liquid in the cup 22 is arranged to effect an increase in the quantity flow rate of the cooling fluid through the worm and so'inerease the volatility of the product. The air and wvater valves 32 and 21 respectively, it will now be noted, are initially cooperatively set for the maintenance of a predetermined temperature of the liquid in the cup 22, such temperature being determined in accordance with the desired volatility of the gasoline.

Means are preferably provided for insuringthe maintenanceof constant evaporation Cal conditions in the cup 22. As, particularly disclosed in theembodiment of Figures 1 to 3 inclusive,,such means .compriseslthe use of a tight cover for the cup and creating a constant and very slight suction in the cup space by connecting the same with a suction pipe 36. Preferably and as shown, an automatic pressurev control valve is interposed in the pipe 36 for insuring the requirer minimum suction in the cup.' In this man ner, the constancy of evaporation conditions in the cupis arranged to be automatically maintained.

Preferably, the bulb ofa second thermometer 38 is disposed in the liquid of the cup 22, said thermometer being operatively connected with an automatic recording device 39 having record chart 41 preferably calibrated in terms of volatility. In this man ner any necessary adjustment of the control means for the motor valve 21 to provide a product of required volatility may be made while the apparatus is in operation. The thermometers 31 and 38 preferably extend through and are mounted on the cover 35, as shown. j

Referring now more, particularly to the structure of the constant flow mechanism 27 associated with the sampling pipe 23, which is disclosed in detail in Figure 2, it will be noted that said mechanism essentially con prises an orifice plate and a diaphragm valve 42 both interposed in said pipe, the latter being closer to the cup 22. The valve 42 provides pressure chambers l3 and n atopposite sides of a diaphragm 45 thereof, said chambers being connected with the pipe 23 at opposite sides of theplate lO bymeans of pipes d6 and 47 respectively. A bipartite rod l8 of adjustable length extends from the diaphragm at, said rod carrying a valve disc 49 for various disposition with relation to the flow orifice 51 of the valve proper. The disc 49 is arranged to be disposed in accordance with the pressure differential at the opposite sides of the plate lO, adjustment for the desired minimum normal. liow therethrough being effected by adjusting the length of the rod 48, as by means of the turnbuckle 52 shown. A spring 53 is provided for maintaining the contact of the valve rod with the diaphragm.

As particularly disclosed,the motor valve 21 and suction control valve 37 are constructed generally as is the valve 42 except that but one pressure chamber is provided, these chambers being respectively connected with. the pressure and suction pipes oa'and 36. "it to be noted, however, that valves of other types and structure might be used in lieu of these valves for accomplishing; the various purposes thereof without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

in Figure 4, an alternative form of the evaporation cup is disclosed. In this em- ,bodiment, a cup 54.-of the hollow-walled vacuum bottle typeis provided, said cup being open at the top. A stack 55 having vent openings 56 at the top thereof is disposed over the cup as a cover therefor whereby escape of the vapors is arranged to take place by reason of their vapor pressure. This method of controlling the evaporation conditions in the cup is not generally as positive as is the vacuum method previously described, but will be found satisfactory in manyinstallations, andwould, ofcourse, be used where no suction pipe is available.

It will now be clear that the self regulating apparatus described, through the automatic maintenance of constantpressure conditions therein, is arranged to, providea product of constant and adjustably variable volatility. And it will be further noted that the deviceof my invention is applicable to many types of distillation apparatus for produc1n condensates of predetermined composition, reference being had to crude oil refining apparatus including topping, plants, craclringplants, and pressure distillate stabilining plants. Furthermore, the devicemay be used in the production of alcoholsand other volatile liquids with equal facility.

From the foregoing description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and method of operation will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I havede-, scribed the principal of operation, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

i-i .ving thus described my invention, I claim new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States the following:

1.- In apparatus for producing a mixed. condensate from hydrocarbon vapors, means providing a condenser chamber, means providing a stream of a cooling medium flowing through said chamber, means automatically operable to maintain a constant pressure in the chamber, and means automatically operable in accordance with the volatility of the condensate to so control the flow rate of said stream as to efiect the production of a condensate of a constant and predetermined volatility.

In, apparatus for producing a mixed condensate from hydrocarbon vapors, means providing a condenser chambena pipe extending through said chamber and carrying a stream .of a cooling medium, a valve for controlling the flow rateof said stream, an

evaporation cup, means supplying a continuous sample of the condensate to said cup, and

meansautomatically operated in accordance with the temperature of the liquid in said cup for controlling the setting of said valve.

3. In apparatus for producing a mixed condensate from hydrocarbon vapors, means providing a condenser chamber, means providing a stream ofa cooling medium flowing through said chamber, means for controlling ous hydrocarbon mixture by condensation to produce acondensate of constant and predei termined vapor pressure, means providing a condenser chamber, means providing a stream of a cooling medium through said chamber,fiow control means for said stream, and means automatically operable in accordance with the vapor pressure of the condensate for operating said control means.

' 5. In continuously operabl apparatus for V iractionating a gaseous hydrocarbon mixture by condensation to produce a liquid product, an evaporation cup, means supplying a continuous sample of the said product to saidcup', and means automatically operable in accordance with the temperature of the evaporating liquid in said cup for controlling said apparatus for the continuous production of said product to have a constant vapor pressure. 7

' 6. In continuouslyoperable apparatus for 'fractionating a gaseous hydrocarbonmixture by condensation to produce a liquid product, an evaporation cup, means supplying a continuous sample of said product to said cup, and means continuously and automatically operable in accordance with the vapor pressure of said sample for controlling said apparatus for the continuous production of said product to have a constant vapor pressure.

7 In apparatus for fractionatmg a gaseous hydrocarbon mixture by condensation to produce a condensate of constant and predetermined vapor pressure, means providing a condensation chamber, means to control the V condensation temperature in said chamber, 7 and means automatlcally operable independ- HEO ently of the condensing temperature and in direct accordance wlth the vapor pressure of said condensate for operatmg said control means' I 8, In continuously operableapparatus for I fractionating a gaseous hydrocarbon :mix-

ture by condensation to produce a liquid convdensate, means providing a condensation chamber, means to automatically maintain a constant operating pressure in said chamber, means to "control the condensation temperature insaid chamber, and means automatically operable in accordance with the vapor pressure of said liquid condensate for operating said temperature control means whereby said liquid condensate is of a constant and predetermined volatility.

9. In continuously operating apparatus for fractionating a variable hydrocarbon mixture, control means, for said apparatus, means providing a liquid fraction of said mixture, and means operable in direct accordance with the vaporpressure of said liquid fraction to so efi'ect said control means as to'maintain the vapor pressure of said condensed product at a constant value.

10. In continuously operable apparatus for fractionating a variable hydrocarbon mixture, means providing ali'quefied fraction of said mixture, an evaporation cup, means supplying a continuous sample of said fraction to said cup, and means continuously and automatically operable in direct accordance with the vapor pressure of said sample in said cup for controlling said apparatus for the continuous production of said fraction to have a constant vapor pressure.

V 11. In a. continuously operating apparatus for fractionating a variable mixture of hydrocarbon vapors, a condenser receiving said I mixture for condensing a fraction of the vapors thereof, and control means to variably determine the fraction of condensation in said condenser, said means operable in direct accordance with the vapor pressure of the condensed product of the condenser to continuously maintain the said vapor pressure of said condensed product at a constant value.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

FLOYD L. KALLAM. 

